Mindful Journaling
Are you mindful of your everyday life? It is not uncommon to go through each day, not realizing what you are doing, as if you are using cruise control.
Our world is overrun with things that just don’t matter in the greater scheme of things. We are overwhelmed by lives that cause us to wear out and forget to stay in the moment and in gratitude.
Have you ever driven somewhere taking the same path you have gone for years? Have you parked your car and realized that you don’t even remember taking the trip? Life is so busy sometimes that autopilot is the norm.
Let’s look at some of the dangers of not being mindful:
Becoming too sensitive- One of the traits that develops when we are not self-aware is becoming overly sensitive to criticisms.
Becoming cynical- Being bombarded by negative information and not taking time to see what’s right in the world can cause cynicism and a mindset that nothing is beautiful or pure.
Becoming a martyr- Being unable to focus on self-care or mindful of how you are engaging people you love is a dangerous spot to be in.
Physical issues- Disease is oftentimes a byproduct of an unhealthy mind and the subsequent choices made due to our disconnect.
Mindful Journaling can open up the mind and restore peace and hope
Being more mindful is a learning curve for so many, and you might need a little time to catch on. Being mindful is great for not only your emotional and mental health, but your physical health as well. To help explain mindful journaling a little better, it’s like yoga but without the physical activity. It’s the way you clear your mind, it’s how you learn to focus on yourself, and it’s how you learn who you are.
Being mindful means being present in your own life. It’s taking deliberate time to focus on how you feel, what’s around you, and what is happening. It’s deliberate, and it’s helpful in so many ways. Being mindful helps you learn how to appreciate the little things in life. It helps you learn how to better react to situations, and it helps you clear your mind of so much stress and discontent. Here’s what you need to know about mindfulness journaling.
Mindful journaling can help us be intentional and stay grounded and focused on what matters most to us.
5 Things to Know About Mindful Journaling
1. This Style of Journaling is Deliberate
It won’t come easily to you at first. You might not sit down and find yourself able to write mindful thoughts right away. You might struggle for a few days or weeks until you grow accustomed to this type of writing. You might be confused or unsure what to write. Take time learning how to be more mindful by writing in your journal daily.
2. It’s Messy
The idea of a mindfulness journal seems so put together and clean, but it’s anything but. A mindfulness journal is messy because your mind is messy. You can’t write down how you feel and what you feel in a nice and tidy manner. Your mind is a jumbled mess of thoughts, feelings, and things. Your journal is going to reflect that jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings. Don’t worry how disorganized it is. Don’t focus on clean thoughts and writing. Focus on what you feel.
3. You Must Be Honest
The one thing you should know about mindfulness journaling is all about honesty. This kind of journal will not work if you are not honest. You cannot sugarcoat how you feel, what you’re thinking, or what you’re going through. Since nobody should read the journal but you, you don’t have to hide your real emotions or feelings in an attempt to appear a certain way. Feel free to be open and free with the journal.
The purpose of a mindful journal is to help you clear your mind. If you’re spending so much time organizing your thoughts and lying to yourself, you’re not being honest about how you feel and why you feel that way. Now is the time to focus on doing things that work for you in terms of being honest. It won’t be easy to be this raw with yourself right away, but you will get better with it over time.
4. Don’t Forget Optimism
Your mind might not be filled with happy thoughts every day, but it is helpful to include some happy thoughts each day. It is not uncommon to have some days where you really have to try to find the good in your day, but it’s there if you know where to look. Even if 90% of your journal on one particular day is negative, find one good thing to be hopeful and optimistic about.
Whether you’re just happy about having hot water and a shower when you get home from work or you’re happy you have a family, write it down. mindful is difficult, but it’s not impossible. You can do it, and you can make it easier on yourself if you are honest.
5. It is Great for Stress Relief
Being mindful is good for your mind and your soul. It’s good for your body, too. You can release your stress when you use your mindfulness journal each day. Your body tenses when you go through difficult times or feel stressed. When you write those things down and get them out of your mind, you’re able to clear the stress and tension from your body.
Being mindful takes time to learn. You won’t be perfect the first day, but it’s all right to mess up and learn as you go. Everyone starts as a novice when it comes to being mindful, but you can make it a habit and learn to apply this to your life each day. A journal is a wonderful way to start making positive changes in your life.
